Switch-stand target mechanism.



F. C. ANDERSON. swnca STAND TARGET MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED 001.15, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fwwentor Fig". 1.

Witne; fie W Tul NORRIS PETERS co. Pno'ro-m'rna. WASHINGTON, u. c.

P. C. ANDERSON. SWITCH STAND TARGET MEGEANISBI.

APPLICATION FILED Q0115, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 19M

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Iwentor ness: 39

; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SWITCH-STAND TARGET MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati in the county of Hamilton and State of ()hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stand Target Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to target mechanisms for switch stands of the skeleton or rotary type and has for its object the complete change of the target to danger position before opening of the switch can be commenced; and also to lock the target mechanism so that it cannot be brought back to safety position untilthe switch has been completely thrown back to its safe position.

My invention consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch stand and target embodying my invention, the parts being locked in safe position and the target shaft being represented as having part broken away on account of lack of space; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the switch operating lever, the target operating lever in engagement therewith, and part of the target connection pivoted to the target-operating lever; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, the parts being in safety position as in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, but with the parts in danger position; and Fig. 5' is a partial cross section on the line a-a2 of Fig. 4. Y

The switch stand 1 has the main shaft 2 journaled vertically in it, being held in upper and lower bearings by caps 3 and i, respectively. Below the lower bearings, this shafthas the crank 5 with the crank pin 6, which is adapted to receive the connecting rod which isconnected to the point rails of the switch. Above the upper bearing, this main shaft 2 has fixed on it the fulcrum-head 7, said main shaft being supported by this fulcrum-head 7 bearing down against the upper side of the upper hearing. The fulcrum-head 7 has the switch-operating lever or handle 8 pivotally swinging on the pivot 9. The top of this switch stand 1 comprises the horizontal plate 10, which has slots 11 and 12 diametrically opposite on a line through the center Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1913.

Patented A11 25, 1914;.

Serial No. 795,221.

of the main shaft 2, and the handle or lever 8 is adapted to engage in either one of these slots when the switch is completely thrown one way or the other. The handle or lever 8 has the ear 13 above its pivot 9, with an opening 14 adapted to receive the bow or shackle of the padlock to engage against the outer face of the fulcrum head 7, where-- by the lever 8 maybe locked against removal from the slot 11 or slot '12 as the case may be. It will be seen that the main shaft 2 is thus rotated 180 to throw the switch, and

the mechanisniso far described is similar to previously disclosed apparatus in switch stands.

The target shaft 15 is journaled vertically, parallel with the main shaft 2 in upper and lower brackets 16 and l7,respectiv'ely, which are bolted to the switch stand 1 along with the capsB and 4, respectively, of the upper and lower bearings of the shaft 2. These brackets not only extend outwardly some distance from the main shaft but are also offset somewhat, as is best seen in Figs. 3 and 1. Above the upper-bracket 16, a slotted arm 18 is pinned or otherwise suit-ably fixed to the'target shaft 15, and, by bearing against the upper side of the bracket 16, supports the target shaft. The upper end of the target shaft carries the blades 19 and 20 extending at right angles from the side of the targetoperating lever 21, toward the switch-operating lever S, is a boss 25 that carries a lug 26, and the switch-operating lever 8 has a slot 27 that receives the lug 26, whereby the target-- operating lever 21 is moved along with the switch-operating lever 8, the two levers swinging together on their concentric pivots 9 and22.

A bifurcated connection-head 28 flanks the slotted arm 18 above and below, and a pin .29

passes down through this head 28 and slides in the slot 30 of the arm 18. This head 28 plane. A rod 34 is screwed into the socket 32 and has a lock-nut 35 to hold it stationary therein; this rod 35 has an eye 36 which is received between bifurcations 37 on the upper end of thetarget-operating lever 21, and a pin 38 passes through the blfurcations 37 and through the eye 36, thus pivoting the rod 34 and the lever 21 together. This rod 34 and the socket 32 make up aconnecting rod between the target-operating lever 21 and the head 28 which, engaging with the slotted arm 18, rotates the target .shaft through its quarter-revolution when the lever 21 is swung upward through a quarter-revolution. By having the rod 34 screwed into the socket 32, it is possible to adjust the length of the connecting rod thus made up, and, by means of the nut 35, this connecting rod may be made rigid at any adjustment. Such adjustment not only allows the parts to be accurately positioned during assemblage of the mechanism, but also allows adjustment to compensate for wear in the parts after the mechanism has been in use for some time. To form a guide for the head 28 during its initial movement, a lug 391 is provided on the bracket 16, slightly outside the head 28. Such a guide is desirable especially in view of the tend ency of this connection to be displaced outwardlv during initial movement as the pin 29 bears against the side of the slot 30 in the arm 18, which in this position is'inclined to the line of movement at an angle of 45. After the parts have moved so far that the arm 18 is approaching a position at right angles to the line of movement, this tendency becomes negligible, and toward the other end of the movement the tendency is 'for the connection to be'd'isplaced in the other direction. This tendency is counteracted by another guide which will be referred to later.

When tie switch is to be thrown, the first act of the operator, after removing the padlock from the car 13, is to bring the handle or 1 ver 8 to a horizontal position, swinging on its pivot 9, and with its upper end, carrying the car 13, moving down into the interior of the fulcrum-head 7 hen this lever has reached .this horizontal posi tion it is completely out of the slot 11 or 12 as the case may be. This lever 8, together with the fulcrum-head, now make up the operating lever of the switch stand, and they are swung around over the plate 10 through the required 180, whereupon the iandle or lever 8 is dropped into the slot 12 or 11 at the other side, as the case may be.

I luded. to. from this terminal part 41 to the other side As shown in the: drawings, the switch stand 1s so designed that when the lever 8 is in the slot 11 it will have closed the switch target-operating lever 21 with it, as beforedescribed, which will result in turning the target shaft through the quarter-revolution required to effect the change of signal from safe or clear to danger. This completion of the change of signalwill occur just as the lever 8 reaches its horizontal position out of engagement with thesid'es of the slot 11. Then-theswitch may be thrown, the lever 8 being brought around to the other side of the stand and dropped into the slot 12 thereat.

l Vhile themechanism so far described insures that the target will be operated from safe to danger position before throwing of the switch is commenced, it will not, in itself, prevent throwing of the target back to safe position before thefswitch itself is thrown back to such position; it will be seen that it would be possible to operate the target bymeans of the targetoperating lever 21 itselfv after the switch operating lever Shad been disengaged therefrom. To prevent this operation of the target mechanism independently of the switch operating mechanism, 1 provide a segment 40 on the fulcrum-head 7, concentric with the'shaft 2. This segment'is so positioned that when the fulcrum-head is in position to permit the lever 8 to occupy the slot 11,

the segment will have a terminal part 41 lying alongside the line of movementof the connection head 28, This'part occupies such a position along this line of movement that 5 it will provide the guide for the head 28 on its other side, in the region where-the tendency is to displace the connection of which the head 28 forms part, as hereinbefore al- The segment 40 extends around of the fulcrum-head '7, where it merges with the side of the fulcrum-head. To properly enga c with the edge of the se ment 40 the i d. in o 23 upper bifurcation of the head 28 is made considerabl hi her than the lower one as y t: a

is best seen in Figs. 1 and The socket 32, connected to the head 28, is thus enabled to pass under the segment 40 on account of the segment being placed in elevated pos1- tion and the head 28 being extended up to engage with the segment.

Theterminal part 41 of the segment 40,: being so close to the line of movement of j the head 28, it will be seen that as soon as any appreciable rotation of the main or swltch-operatinp' shaft 2 occurs, this segtarget to safe position. With the segment 40 disposed as described, it will thus obstruct the return movement of the targetoperating connection while the switch-operating mechanism is in any position around its 180 of travel, clear up to the extreme other position with the lever 8 in the slot 12. It will not be possible to return the target: operating mechanism to safe position until the switch-operating mechanism hastarget back into safe position as the switch operating lever 8 is brought down into position for locking again. It will not be pos sible to lock this lever 8 until the opening 14: in the ear 13 has been brought far enough out of the fulcrum-head 7' toadmit the shackle ofthe padlock. Not untilthis-has occurred will the target have been brought completely into F clear or safe position. t is thusseen that the operator is compelled to bring the target into safe position before he can lock the switch, so that display of danger by the signal when the switch is safe is also prevented, as well as the more serious irregularity of displaying safety when the switch is open, which is prevented in the manner above described. 1 i

It will be noted that until the lug 26 of the target operating lever 21 is entirely witl1- drawn from the slot 27 in the switch operating lever 8, it is impossible to operate the target independently of the switch operating lever 8 even though the segment 410 did not come within the path of the operative connection to the target. 'inus double protection is afiorded'at this period of the operation of the switch-mechanism, amply guarding against false removal of the target from danger position even though the segment 4-0 should fall somewhat short of promptly performing its duty in this period of the operation.

I have illustrated and described a switch stand requiring a rotation of the main shaft through 180 but since the target mechanism the parts properly proportioned, and will operate correctly according to the principle herein set forth in such a switch stand mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the bracket 16 is made with the guides 39 both above and below, so as to permit the bracket being inverted. where it is desired to have a righthand instead of the left-hand switch stand. The lower bracket 17 is also invertible .in making a switch stand for such reverse position, and the target-operating lever 21 would be pivoted on the stop 24 at the other side of the stand and the other parts would be arranged accordingly. The only part requiring a different part to be'substituted for it will' be'the fulcrum-head 7 with its segment 10. The fulcrum-head to operate on the other side requires its segment to be placed diametrically opposite.

The above details are referred to in order to make clear the illustration of my preferred construction. However, it will be understood that such details may be altered and various other minor changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

1. In combination with aswitch stand and a target thereon, a switch-operating element requiring initial movement in one plane be fore being movable in another plane to operatethe switch, a target shaft, a targetoperating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch-operating element and the target-operating lever whereby the lever moves with the switch-operating element during the initial movement of the switch-operating element, an arm with which the target shaft turns, and operative connection from the target-operating lever to this arm, wherebyjsaid target is completely operated during said initial movement of the switch-operating element.

2. Incombination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a switch-operating element requiring initial movement in one plane before being movable in another plane to operate the switch, a target shaft, a target-operating" lever, means for operative engagement between theswitch-operating element and the target-operating lever whereby the lever moves "with the switch-operating element during the initial, movement-of the switchoperating element, an arm with which the target shaft turns, operative connection from the target-operating lever to this" arm, wherebysaid target is completely operated during said initial movement of the switchoperating element, means moved by said switch-operating element into the path of travel of the operative connection between the target-operating lever and the arm of the target shaft, whereby operation of the target independently of the operation of the switc'lroperating element is prevented.

3. 1n combination wlth a switch stand and a target thereon, a switch-operating element requiring initial movement in one plane before being movable in another plane to'opcrate the switch, disengageable operative f connections between this element and the, target, whereby the target is completely operated during said initial movement of said element, means carried along with said element in its switch-operating movement, and 1 7 said initial movement of said element.

4. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft,'a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operating lever being received in the slot and requiring to be initially swung on its pivot in the fulcru1n-head to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft, a target shaft parallel to said'main shaft a target-operating lever pivoted concentric with the pivoting of the switch-operating lever, -means for operative engagement between the switch-operating lever and this target-operating lever," whereby the two levers swing together during the initial movement of said switch-operating lever, and operative connection between this target-operating lever and said target shaft, whereby said target is completely operated during said initial swinging'of the switch-operating lever.

In combination with aswitch stand and atarg-et thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixedto rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrui'n-head, a'stationary plate having'a slot, said switch-operating lever being received'in the slot and requiring to be initially swung on its pivot in the fulcrum-head to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft, a target shaft parallel to said main shaft, a target-operating lever pivoted concentric with the pivoting of the switch-operating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch-operating lever and this target-operating lever, whereby the two levers swing together during the initial movement of said switch-operating lever, an arm fixed on the target shaft, and operative connection between the target-operating lever and said arm, whereby the target is completely operated during the initial swinging of said switch-operating lever.

' 6. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operatinglever being received in the slot and requiring to be iniitally swung on its pivotin the fulcrumhead to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum head and main shaft, a target operating lever'pivoted concentric with the pivoting of the switchoperating lever, means for operative engagement'between the switch-operating lever and this target-operating lever, whereby the two levers swing together during the initial movement of said switch-operating lever, an arm fixed on the target shaft, aconnectionhead articulating with said arm, and connection between said connection-head and said target-operating lever,'whereby the target is completely operated during said initial swinging of said switch-operating lever.

7. lncombination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch'operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-heads, a stationary plate having slot, said switch-operating lever being received inthe slot and requiring to be ini-, tially swung on its pivot f in the fulcrum-- headto disengage frointhe slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft, a target shaft parallel to said main shaft, a target-operating lever pivoted concentric with the pivoting' of the switchoperating lever, means foroperative engagement between the switch-operating lever and shaft, a target shaft parallel to said main 7 this target-operating lever, whereby the two received in the slot and requiring to be initially swnngon its pivot the fulcrumhead to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft,

a target shaft parallel to saidinain shaft, a

target-operating lever pivoted concentric with tlze' ivoting' of the switch-operating lever, means for operative engagement beoperating lever and this target-operating lever, whereby the two levers swing together during the initial movement of said switch-operating lever, an arm fixed on the target shaft a connectionehead articulating with the arm, and a connecting element pivoted to said connection-head and to said target-operating lever, whereby the target is completely operated during said initial swinging of said switclroperating lever, and means for adjusting the length of said connecting element. I v

9. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, .a switclnoperating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operating lever being received in the slot and requiring to be initially swung on its pivot in the,

fulcrum head to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and mam shaft, a target shaft parallel to said main shaft, a target-operating lever piv- 'oted concentric with the pivoting of the switch-operating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch operating lever and this target-operating lever, whereby the two levers swing together duringthe initial movement of said switch-operating lever, operative connection between this target-operating lever and said target shaft, whereby said target is completely operated durin cram-head adapted to project into the path of travel of said operative connection when the fulcrum-head is rotated" to operate the switch. i

10. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operating lever being received in the slot and re-- qniring to be initially swung on its pivot in the fulcrum-head to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft, a target shaft parallel to said main shaft, a target-operating lever pivoted concentric with the pivoting of the switch operating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch-operating lever and this target-operating lever, whereby the two levers swing together during the initial movement of said switch-operating lever, an arm fixed on the target shaft, a connectionhead articulating with said arm, and con nection between said connection-head and said target-operating lever, whereby the said initial swinging of the switchoperating lever, and means on said fultarget is conipletel operated during said initial swinging 0 said switch-operating lever, and means on said fulcrum-head projecting into the path of travel of said connection-head, whereby operation of the tar:

get'independently, of the operation of the switch-operating mechanism is prevented.

11. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operating lever being received in the slot andrequin ing tobe initially swung on its pivotv in the fulcrum-head to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and operating lever, and means on said fulcrum-v head projecting into the path 'oftravel of said connectionehead, whereby operation of the target independently of the operation of the switch operating mechanism is prevented.

l2. lncombination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operating lever being received in the slot and requiring to be initially swung on its pivot in the fulcrum head to disengage from the slot andpermit rotation of the fulcrum-head and mjainshaft, a target shaft parallel to said main shaft, a target-operating lever-1 pivoted concentric with the pivoting of the switch-operating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch-operating lever and this t'arget operating lever, where by the two levers swing together during the initial movement of said switch-operating lever,o-perative connection between this target-operating lever and saidftarget shaft, whereby said target is completely operated during said initial swinging of the switchoperating lever,means on said fulcrum-head adapted'to project intothe path of travel of said operative connection when the ful crum-head is rotated to operate the switch,

and a guide for-the operative connection at one side thereof on the switch stand, said projecting means on the fulcrum-head acting as a guide for said operative connection atthe other side during the initial swinging ofthe switch-operating lever.

13. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-o-perating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixed to rotate said main shaft, a switch-operating lever pivoted in the fulcrum-head, a stationary plate having a slot, said switch-operating lever being received in the slot and requiring to be initially swung on its pivot in the, fulcrum-head to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft, a target shaft parallel to sa d main shaft, a tar 'et operating lever pivoted concentric with the pivoting of the switch operating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch-operating lever and this targetoperating lever, whereby the two levers swing together during the initialmovement of said switch op erating lever, an arm fixed on the target shaft, a connection-head articulating with said arm, connection between said connection-head and said target-operating lever, whereby the target is completely operated during said initial swinging "of said switchoperating lever, means on said. fulcrun1 head projecting into the path of travel of said'connection-head, whereby operation of the targetindependently of the operation of the switch operating mechanism is prevented, and a guide for said connection-head on the switch stand at one side'of th'ehead,

said projecting means on the fulcrum head acting as aguide for said connection-head at its other side during the initial swinging of the switch-operating lever;

14. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, a main switch-operating shaft, a fulcrum-head fixedto rotate said main shaft, a switcl-i-operating lever' pivoted in the fi'ilcrumhead, a stationary plate having a slot,-'said switch-operating lever being received in the slot and requiring to be initially sw'ungon its pivot in the fHlCiUIll-lllfitd to disengage from the slot and permit rotation of the fulcrum-head and main shaft, a target shaft parallel to saidmain shaft-,a targetoperating lever pivoted concentric withthe pivoting of the switch-operating lever, means for operative engagement between the switch-operating lever and this target-operating lever, whereby'the two. leversswing together during the initial movement of saidswitch-operating lever, an arm fixed on the target shaft, a

connection-head articulating with the arm,

connecting element pivoted to said connectionsl iead and: to said t'arget operating I domes of'this atent may be obtained far' five" cents lever, vwhereby the target is co rnple'tely opcrated during said initial swinging of said switch-operating lever, and means on said fulcrum-head projecting into the pathof travel of said connect1onhead, whereby operation of the targetindependently of the operation of the switch-operating mechanism is prevented, and a guide for said connection-head on the switch stand at one side of :the head, saidprojecting means on the fulcrum-head acting as a guide for said connection-headat its other side during the initial swinging of the switch-operating lever. 15. In combination with a switch stand and a target thereon, comprising an upright main shaft and an upright target shaft, means for rotating the main shaft and means eoiiperating with the main-shaft-ro tating means to rotate the targetshaft, a

bracket for the target shaft'extending out away from said main shaft and having-an offset over to the target shaft, a projection on said bracket forming a guide for the means that operates the target shaft, said target-operating means being transposable on said switch stand and said bracket being reversible thereon to accord with the trans position of said parts, and a companion projection on the other side of said bracket to guide the target-operating means when the bracket is inverted.

16. In combination with a switch stand and a targettherecn, a main shaft, means for rotating the main shaft, a target shaft,

a slotted arm fixed to the target shaft, a bifurcated connection-head flanking the slot-v ted arm, a pin in said head engaging with the slot of the arm, a lug on said connection, a bifurcated socket flanking the lug, a pin passing through the bifurcations of the socket and through said lug and pivoting the socket and the head together, a rod adjustably secured in said socket, a bifurcated target-operating lever having its bifurcations flanking said rod, a pin passing through these bifurcationsand through the rod, a stop on the switch stand for the switch-operating mechanism, a pivot for said target-operating lever in said stop, and

fmeans'for engagement between the switchoperating means and said target-operating each, by addressing the G'oininiss ioner of Patents."

Washington, D. G. 

